The story of Aden as a trading center stretches back over 3000
years .Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta visited it in the 11th and 12th centuries .In
the 1800's Aden grew as ship fuelling port, holding stocks of coal and water
supplies for the early steamers.
Port services expanded after the Suez Canal opened in 1869 as
Aden grew to become one of the busiest ship bunkering and a tax- free- shopping
and trading ports in the world by the 1950's Aden has acquired world reputation
as a center of maritime trade since seven centuries before B.C . It was regarded
as terminal for incense and spices trade and a corridor for convoys.
Mr.Harlod Jacob, British officer and the writer of a book
titled (Kings of Arabian Peninsula) described Aden as Cinderella of the East.
Aden Port had been distinguished through history in the
region for granting equal opportunities for all merchants who came to the port,
and without any discrimination under any excuse weather geographical or ethnic
or creed affinity. This accumulated tradition, practice and behavior through
successive generations were one of the supporting factor in the continuous
success of Aden City and its free port as a regional an world trade center in
the previous epoch . | 
